1 Peter 4:10

4:7-11 The destruction of the Jewish church and nation, foretold by our Saviour, was very near. And the speedy approach of death and judgment concerns all, to which these words naturally lead our minds. Our approaching end, is a powerful argument to make us sober in all worldly matters, and earnest in religion. There are so many things amiss in all, that unless love covers, excuses, and forgives in others, the mistakes and faults for which every one needs the forbearance of others, Satan will prevail to stir up divisions and discords. But we are not to suppose that charity will cover or make amends for the sins of those who exercise it, so as to induce God to forgive them. The nature of a Christian's work, which is high work and hard work, the goodness of the Master, and the excellence of the reward, all require that our endeavours should be serious and earnest. And in all the duties and services of life, we should aim at the glory of God as our chief end. He is a miserable, unsettled wretch, who cleaves to himself, and forgets God; is only perplexed about his credit, and gain, and base ends, which are often broken, and which, when he attains, both he and they must shortly perish together. But he who has given up himself and his all to God, may say confidently that the Lord is his portion; and nothing but glory through Christ Jesus, is solid and lasting; that abideth for ever.

{8} As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, {9} as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (8) He shows the use of charity, that is, that every man bestow that gift which he hath received, to the profit of his neighbour. (9) A reason, because that whatever gift we have, we have received it from God on this condition, to be his disposers and stewards.

1 Peter 4:10-11 . As every man hath received the gift — Or, a gift, spiritual or temporal, ordinary or extraordinary, (although the latter seems primarily intended,) so minister the same one to another — Employ that gift for the common good; as good stewards of the manifold grace of God — Of the talents wherewith his free love has intrusted you. If any man speak — In public assemblies, or in the social meetings of his Christian brethren; let him speak as the oracles of God — Let all his words be according to that pattern, both as to matter and manner, and more especially when he speaks in public. By this mark we may always know who are, so far, the true or false prophets. The oracles of God teach that men should repent, believe, and obey; he that treats of faith, and leaves out repentance, and fruits worthy of repentance; or treats of repentance and its fruits, but omits inculcating faith; or who does not enjoin practical holiness to believers, does not speak as the oracles of God; he does not preach Christ, let him think as highly of himself as he will.

If any man minister — Serve his brother in love, whether in temporal or spiritual things; let him do it as of the ability which God giveth — That is, humbly and diligently, ascribing all his power to God, and using it with his might; that God in all things — Whether of nature or of grace; may be glorified through Jesus Christ — The wise dispenser of these gifts; to whom — As our great Redeemer and Saviour; be praise and dominion — Greek, η δοξα και το κρατος , the glory of them, and the power of dispensing them; or the glory of his wisdom, which teaches us to speak, and the might which enables us to act.

A gift (χάρισμα) Originally, something freely given: a gift of grace (χάρις). Used in New Testament (a) of a blessing of God graciously bestowed, as upon sinners (Romans 5:15, Romans 5:16; Romans 11:29); (b) of a gracious divine endowment: an extraordinary gift of the Holy Spirit dwelling and working in a special manner in the individual (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6; Romans 12:6, Romans 12:8). So here. Manifold See on 1 Peter 1:6.

As every man hath received the gift; any gift, office, faculty, or ability, whereby he may be serviceable to the good of others, all which are received of God, 1 Corinthians 12:11 Ephesians 4:7 . Minister the same one to another; dispense and communicate modestly and humbly, not lifting himself up above others upon the account of his gifts, but remembering he hath received them, and is a steward to dispense them. As good stewards; and therefore faithful in distributing his Lord’s goods. Of the manifold grace of God: by grace he means the same as by gift before; and so by manifold grace, the various gifts given to them of God, 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 .

1 Peter 4:10 f. supplement the foregoing directions for the inner life of the Church and rest partly on Romans 12:6 (with simpler classification of gifts ), partly on the conception of disciples as stewards ( Luke 12:42 ) serving out rations in God’s house.— διακονοῦντες , in the widest sense (as διακονία in Acts 6:1 ; Acts 6:4 ; 1 Corinthians 12:5 ) in accordance with the saying, the Son of Man came … to minister ( Mark 10:45 ), which is interpreted here, as part of the pattern, by the addition of an object (only here and 1 Peter 1:12 ); cf. 2 Corinthians 8:19 , τῇ χάριτι … τῇ διακονουμένῃ ὑφʼ ἡμῶν .— οἰκονόμοι . The title is applied to all and not only to the governors as by St. Paul ( 1 Corinthians 4:1 ; Titus 1:7 ); compare the question of St. Peter which precedes the source ( Luke 12:41 f.).

10. every—"even as each man hath received," in whatever degree, and of whatever kind. The Spirit's gifts (literally, "gift of grace," that is, gratuitously bestowed) are the common property of the Christian community, each Christian being but a steward for the edifying of the whole, not receiving the gift merely for his own use. minister the same—not discontentedly envying or disparaging the gift of another. one to another—Greek as in 1Pe 4:8, "towards yourselves"; implying that all form but one body, and in seeking the good of other members they are promoting the good of themselves. stewards—referring to Mt 25:15, &c.; Lu 19:13-26.

10 . As every man hath received the gift ] The two verses remind us of the like precepts in Romans 12:6 ; 1 Corinthians 12:4 ; 1 Corinthians 12:28 . The tense of the Greek verb (“as every man received the gift”) implies the thought that the gift came at a definite moment, probably at that of the laying on of hands. Comp. Acts 19:6 ; 1 Timothy 4:14 . The words “As every man received” may be equivalent to “Let every man use his gift according to its nature or purpose,” which agrees best with Romans 12:6 , or they may, more probably, be an echo of the “freely ye received, freely give” of Matthew 10:8 . even so minister the same one to another ] The Greek verb means something more than “use” or “administer.” It implies that men were to see in the gifts they possessed no ground for boasting, but only a call to more lowly service. They were to be, as in the next clause, “stewards” of those gifts. The thought that men are stewards, not possessors, of what God has given them in their outward or their inward life was, of course, a natural one ( 1 Corinthians 4:1 ; Titus 1:7 ), but here we can scarcely fail to recognise an echo of our Lord’s teaching. Peter had heard the parable of the steward who “wasted his lord’s goods” ( Luke 16:1-12 ) and his Lord’s question, Who then is the faithful and wise steward? ( Luke 12:42 ).

In the “manifold,” or better, perhaps, varied grace of God, we have implied a much greater diversity of gifts, such as we find in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 , Ephesians 4:11 , than those which the Apostle specifies. He confines himself, indeed, to the one broad division between the gifts that shewed themselves in speech and those that shewed themselves in act.

Verse 10. - As every man hath received the gift ; rather, according as each received a gift. The aorist ἔλαβεν , "received," seems to point to a definite time, as baptism, or the laying on of hands (comp. Acts 8:17 ; Acts 19:6 ; 1 Timothy 4:14 ). For the gift ( χάρισμα ), comp. Romans 12:6 ; 1 Corinthians 12:4 , "There are diversities of gifts." Even so minister the same one to another ; literally, ministering it towards one another. The gifts of grace, whatever they may be, are talents entrusted to individual Christians for the good of the whole Church; those who have them must use them to minister to the wants of others (comp. 1 Peter 1:12 , where the same word, διακονεῖν , to minister, is used of the gift of prophecy). As good stewards of the manifold grace of God. We seem to see here a reference to the parable of the talents (comp. also 1 Corinthians 4:1 ; Titus 1:7 ). Christians must be "good stewards ( καλοὶ οἰκονόμοι )." There should be not only exactness, but also grace and beauty in their stewardship - the beauty which belongs to holy love, and flows from the imitation of him who is "the good Shepherd ( ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλός ).";;The gifts ( χαρίσματα ) are the manifestations of the grace ( χάρις ) of God; that grace from which all gifts issue is called manifold ( ποικίλη ), because of the diversities of its gifts, the variety of its manifestations. 1 Peter 4:10